Failed colonoscopy/gastroscopy - repeating this week with Sedation

Hi Miriam, As I wrote elsewhere, my colonoscopy experience was hell however I have had one or two endoscopies a year since 1998. I have always had sedation (Midazolam) and never had a problem. Sometimes I have a recollection of slight gagging but now I always explain and ask for plenty of the local anaesthetic spray and a small delay, and despite being asked not to fight the sedative, I conjure up strong images to remain as 'conscious' as possible and talk to them until they are just approaching. I don't think they give more sedative but it has a few more seconds to take effect! I can honestly say I have never been troubled and sometimes I have had to have 'banding' of veins in the oesophagus. I definitely would not want it without sedation, though.

Hi Miriam, I've had 2 Endoscopies, 1 was only today actually but i can honestly say they are a piece of cake compared to Colonscopies which i found out today! I was sedated but cannot remember anything about the procedure apart from the throat spray and the sedative going in. You will be fine. I agree that Colonoscopies are painful, mine today literally had me moaning in pain whilst the consultant was doing it, sedative did nothing really for that.

Don't worry Miriam, insist they give a little extra sedation and it will be over before you know it. NOTHING like a Colonoscopy. Good luck and let us know how you get on

Miriam, I have had 2 endoscopies. the 1st under sedation, no problem.

the 2nd, without sedation, terrible gagging, but over very quickly.

Thank you so much everyone for your responses, experiences and suggestions. Its all really helpful stuff. As you might have gathered I’m pretty nervous about it. My gag reflex is pretty strong, I even gag sometimes when I’m brushing my teeth. And that was a huge part of the reason for the first endoscopy failing. I’m worried that even with sedation I won’t be able to swallow it and breathe. The doc first time round just kept saying “just breathe, just breathe, its all in your head.” It wasn’t at all just in my head, I physically couldn’t breath which he just didn’t seem to get. I’m rather hoping that I don’t get him again. The nurses and HCA’s were lovely though.

I’m going to give them a ring in the morning and ask to speak to one of the doc’s or nurses if possible to find out a bit more about the sedation and how they do it at Hammersmith.

Thanks everyone - I’ll let you know what they say and how it goes on Wednesday, I wish I could just have it done as a general but I suspect they won’t consider that unless the one with sedation fails…

Good Luck Miriam. I do think you'll find, that with the right amount of sedation you won't need to swallow as your muscles should be relaxed enough for the tube to just slide down also it's seemed to be all over in a couple of minutes with me but I did ask for extra sedation

I’ve just spoken to someone, a receptionist I think, at the Endoscopy unit at Hammersmith. I asked about how the sedation works and she said it would be intravenous valium sedation. Is this standard? I can’t remember what they used when I had a colonoscopy only that it didn’t work. She said I could talk to the nurses about it on the day which of course I will… still a bit anxious though. I know it probably seems to most like I’m making a fuss over nothing but my previous experiences really have been awful.

Watch out for the after effect of valium. I had valium sedation on Friday when I had a cardioversion a ten minute procedure.

After it I felt quite alert but when getting off the bed after having a ham sandwich and a cup of tea my legs were like that of a drunk and I staggered around. Even standing I was swaying. Porter pushed me to the exit and we got a taxi home. I had soup and bread. The staggering did not wear off so I thought that I would lie down at 4.45 for an hour before dinner. I waken up and look at the clock and see that it is 11.45. I got up had something to eat and used the computer and read for a while before going back to bed at 2.30 not expecting to sleep.

I slept until 8.45 and still felt unsteady on my legs. That did not happen last time I had sedation for cardioversion. Dr Google tells me that the effect can last for 40 hours. It was well into Sunday before I was walking in a straight line and felt safe to go out.

They did not warn me of the effect except to say not to drive or operate machinery.

anyone had a colonoscopy, that weakened the sphincter muscle?

or had anal leakage after the procedure?

the day after my colonoscopy, I went out for lunch, and it all turned into leakage.